Occupational Health & Safety Regulations 2007 (Vic)

1. Occupational Health & Safety Regulations 2007 (Vic) Environment Health and Safety Unit Level 3, 11-13 Lincoln Square South The University of Melbourne Phone: 83443050

2. Overview • Context and need for the changes • How the regulations were developed • Outline of the key changes • Implications for the University's operations • Further developments

3. Context and need for the changes • OHS Act 2004 (Vic) replaced OHS Act 1985 (Vic) effective 1 July 2005 • Old Act had 13 separate regulations • Inconsistencies • Existing regulations • National Standards • New act recognised these regulations and created sunset clauses for the existing regulations on 1 July 2007.

4. How the regulations were developed • WorkSafe established the Compliance Framework Project • Tri-partite working group • Government (WorkSafe) • Employers (Employer Associations) • Employees (Trade Unions) • Objective: review and draft recommendations to WorkSafe and the Minster for: • New Regulations • New Compliance Codes • Public comment period

5. Involvement of HSR in consultation Elimination of legal obligation to conduct risk assessment for regulated hazards Increased focus on effective risk control Consolidation of regulations in one volume Licenses replacing certificates of competency for high risk work Alignment of regulation of scheduled carcinogens to National Standard New Construction Regulations Outline of the key changes

6. Risk Management • Increase focus on Risk Control rather than Risk Assessment • No longer an offence if suitable risk controls are applied with out a formal risk assessment • SafetyMAP continues to require Risk Assessments • Auditors and Inspectors are likely to also focus more on Risk Control of regulated hazards

7. Introduction & Definitions General Duties Physical Hazards Hazardous Substances & Materials Hazardous Industries Licensing & Registration Chapters

8. Introduction & Definitions • Where possible definitions appear in this chapter • Some specific definitions continue to appear is relevant chapters/divisions • Aims to create more consistent definitions throughout the regulations

9. General Duties • Properly install and maintain risk control measures • Provision of information and training • Medical examinations and confidentiality • Standard issue resolution procedure if agreed procedure does not exist • Involving HSR in consultation

10. Employee consultation • So far as is reasonably practicable, employers must consult in relation to: • Hazard, ID, Risk Assessment & Risk Control • Decisions about adequacy of facilities for welfare • Developing procedures for: • OHS Issue Resolution • Consultation • Monitoring health & workplace conditions • Providing training & information • Determining membership of OHS committees • Proposed changes that may effect health & safety

11. Consultation – Involving Health & Safety Reps • OHS Regulations specify how HSRs are to be included in consultation, by: • Providing the HSR with all the information intended to be provided to other employees • Providing information to HSR first (unless not reasonably practicable to do so) • Inviting HSR to meeting & meeting with HSR • Providing reasonable opportunity for HSR to express view and taking these into account.

12. Physical Hazards • Manual Handling • Noise • Prevention of Falls • Confined Spaces • Plant

13. Hazardous Substances & Materials • Hazardous Substances • Asbestos • Lead

14. Hazardous Industries • Construction • Harmonisation with National Standard • Largely codification of existing arrangements • Introduction of OHS Plans for construction work >$250,000 • Impact on Property & Campus Services contracts with construction & maintenance contractors • Major Hazard Facilities • Mines

15. Licensing & Registration • All Licenses & Registrations moving to 5 years • Primary & forestry industries no longer exempt for Licenses (effective 1 July 2008) • License required for: • Cranes & Hoists, Load shifting, Scaffolding & Rigging,Boilers & Pressure Equipment • Process to Transfer Certificates to Licenses: • Register intent to transfer to a Licence. • WorkSafe send application pack three months before Certificate expiry • Complete the ‘Licence to Perform High Risk Work Transfer Application’ form & pay $45

16. Further developments • Compliance Frame Work Project continue to develop Compliance Codes • Compliance Codes will be developed for each division of the Regulations • Compliance Codes will be similar to Codes of Practice

17. Further Information • EHS Advisers • EHS Website • WorkSafe Website